Vent protecting and draft equalizing device



1953 J. w. MARTIN 2,647,477

VENT PROTECTING AND DRAFT EQUALIZING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR J WMQ 72in ATTORNEY ,4 1953 J. w. MARTIN 2,647,477

VENT PROTECTING AND DRAFT EQUALIZING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1950 2 Sheets$heet 2 ElEEL- 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1953 VENT PROTECTING AND DRAFT EQUALIZING DEVICE James Woodward Martin, Denver, 0010., assignor to Lone Star Gas Company, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application August 4, 1950, Serial No. 177,723

My invention consists in new and useful improvements in a vent protecting and draft equalizing device for the air intake and exhaust or vent conduits of fuel-burning equipment and re lates more particularly to certain refinements and modifications of the structure illustrated and described in my prior Patent No. 2,087,983, issued July 27, 1937.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vent protecting and draft equalizing device which, while embodying the same basic principles of operation as my prior structure, i more readily adaptable for use in connection with space heaters and other fuel-burning equipment employed in dwellings and other buildings where it is important to properly vent the exhaust fumes or products of combustion so as to avoid contamination of the air within the room or building Where the burner is located and where it is important to use air from outside the building so as to eifect the greatest safety and economy in the burning of the fuel.

While it is important from the health standpoint to properly vent the products of combustion resulting from fuel-burning equipment, it is equally important from an operating standpoint to so' control the draft through the combustion system, that sudden changes in wind velocity and atmospheric conditions will be prevented from smothering out or blowing out the flame. The interruption of the draft even momentarily, is likely to extinguish the flame and in gas-burning equipment, this can have serious consequences asthe burner will not ignite again when the normal draft returns. r

According to the present invention, I provide a common housing located externally f the building wall and adapted to receive the ends of the air intake conduit and the vent conduit for exhausting the products of combustion and within this housing each of the conduit ends terminates in communication with an enlarged chamber which is adapted to respectively control the air inlet and the combustion exhaust, so as to prevent the admixture of vent gases with fresh air taken into the burner. These chambers are so arranged with respect to one another in the housing, as to create within the housing a zone of equalized pressure so that the natural draft created by the heat of the flame is uninterrupted by atmospheric disturbances.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved baffle structure located adjacent the upper end of the housing to protect the same not only from snow and-rain but to intercept and disperse strong winds and sudden gusts of wind,-

Claims. (Cl. 110-147) By performing such functions said improved baffle structure permits said housing to be constructed to greatly reduced dimensions and at much less cost over my previous invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vent chamber within the housing which is sufficiently enlarged to facilitate the heating of the housing and other parts of the equipment so as to prevent the excessive accumulation of ice in the wintertime.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the ap-' pended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views, I

Fig. l is a view in side elevation showing my improved vent protectorand draft equalizer operatively connected through a building wall, to fuel-burning equipment;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view showing the interior of the device on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. I

In the drawings, 4 diagrammatically represents any suitable fuel-burning equipment of the type having a closed burner box and located within a room or building, the exterior wall of which is designated at 5, said fuel-burning equipment being provided with the usual air inlet conduit 6 and exhaust conduit I, respectively leading to and H from the burner box. The outer ends of the conof telescopically arranged cylinders l0 and II which are axially adjustable to accommodate varying wall thicknesses, circular plates I2 which extend radially beyond the cylinders, being secured to the outer ends of respective cylinders for enclosing the opening 8 in the wall 5. The parallel ends of the conduits 6 and I extend through suitable openings in the inner plate 12 cylinders H), H. The couplings 6', 'I' extend into v the passageways l3 through openings in the outer plate I2.

l he vent protector and draft equalizer 9 consists of a vertically disposed housing i4, having inner and outer side walls l5 and 18 respectively, connected by end wallsl'i. The side walls iii and I6 are preferably substantially square in shape while the end walls I! are or" considerably less dimensions as will be seen by comparing Figs. 2 and 3. This provides a small, relatively fiat box-like structure which, when connected to the inlet and exhaust conduits 5 and i, as shown in Fig. 1, lies in relatively close proximity to the building wall 5 and presents a neat, compact and very inconspicuous appearance. The upper and lower extremities of the housing l4 are open at l8 and I9, as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Within the housing M I provide a pair of chambers or hoods and 2|, of similar shape but oppositely disposed and arranged in vertically spaced relation to one another and inwardly spaced from the adjacent side and end walls of housing M. In the form of the invention illustrated, these chambers or hoods are substantially triangular in vertical cross section as will be seen from Fig. 2, and are arranged with the wall of the chamber, corresponding to the hypotenuse of each triangle, adjacent to but spaced from the corresponding wall of the other chamber, to provide 'a diagonal passageway connecting the upper and lower portions of the housing. This passageway, together with the vertical passageways formed by the spaced walls of the chambers and housing, afiords communication throughout the internal area of the housing and insures therein a zone of equalized pressure.

More specifically, the lower hood 20 is adapted to function as an air intake hood and consists of a pair of substantially triangular side walls 22 and 23, a long vertical end wall 24 and a short end wall 25, said end and side walls being connected by a diagonal top wall 26, forming the hypotenuse of the triangular shape. The bottom of the hood 26 is open to form an air inlet mouth 2! which lies within the confines of the lower portion of the housing l4 and is preferably provided with a screen or protector 28 to prevent the entrance of foreign matter into the hood. The screen may be of any suitable material and shape, that shown in the drawing being elongated and V-shaped in cross section as will be seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The hood 20 is held in place within the housing M by means of a laterally extended annular neck 29 which bounds an air outlet passageway 30, leading from the hood 20 and projects through a suitable flanged opening 3| in the inner wall [5 of the housing I4. It will be observed from Fig. 3 that the distances between the outer face of the side wall 22 of the hood 20 and the outer extremity of the neck 29, are such as to permit the insertion of the hood 29 through the open lower end IQ of the housing I4 and when the neck 29 is in line with the opening 3| in the housing wall l5, the neck 29 is inserted in the opening with a tight fit, so as to maintain the hood 20 in place. The projected end of the neck 29 is adapted to receive the adjacent end of the air inlet coupling 5' as shown in Fig. l.

The upper or vent hood 3|, as above stated,

is generally of the same shape'as the hood 20 just described and likewise consists of a pair of substantially triangular side walls 32 and 33, a long vertical end wall 34 and a short end wall 35, said end and side walls being connected by a diagonal bottom wall 35, forming the hypotenuse of the triangular shape. The upper portion of the hood 2| is open to form a vent mouth 31 which lies within the confines of the upper portion of the housing l4 and, as in the case of the air inlet hood 20, is provided with a screen or protector 33, of similar shape to that previously described and shown at 28.

Also similar to the hood 20, the hood 2| is provided with a laterally extended neck 39 which bounds a vent inlet opening 40 leading into the vent hood 2!, said neck 39 extending through a flanged opening 4| in the inner wall |5 of the housing M and serving to receive the ad jacent end of the vent coupling 1'.

As previously stated, it is important to maintain within the housing l4, a zone of equalized pressure, while at the same time so directing the products of combustion to be vented and the fresh air to be furnished to the burner, as to prevent admixture of the flue gases with the incoming fresh air. Otherwise, I have found, that if the static pressure varies between the points of air inlet and exhaust or vent, the flame is likely to be blown out or sucked out. This pressure equalization is accomplished in my improved structure, on the same basic principle as that disclosed in my former patent above mentioned, but in the present embodiment the communication throughout the internal area of the housing is accomplished by the vertical passageways 42 and 43 formed between the end walls of the hoods and the adjacent walls of the housing, the vertical passageways 44 and 45, between the side walls of the hoods and the adjacent walls of the housing, and the diagonal passageway 46 formed between the spaced diagonal walls 26 and 36 of the adjacent hoods. In other words, unrestricted communication in practically all directions is provided between the inlet and exhaust ends of the housing M.

v At the lower extremity of the hood 2| I provide a suitable drain opening 41 as shown in Fig. 2, to dispose of condensed moisture which would otherwise accumulate as a result of the discharge of the products of combustion. It will be noted that this drain opening is located out of line with the lower hood 20 so that the moisture discharges directly through the lower end of the vertical passageway 42, thus avoiding the possibility of water piling up as ice in the lower portion of the equalizer.

Surmounting and surrounding the top of the housing i4, is an improved bafile structure consisting of a snow and downblow deflector indicated by the numeral 48 and a wind intercepting and dispersing main bame member 49. the side and end walls of which are angular in shape, converging towards their upper and lower edges where they terminate in coaxial openings. More specifically, this baffle 49 has in wardly inclined lower side walls 5:: connected by similarly inclined lower end walls 5|, the lower edges ofsaid walls forming an opening 52 which surrounds the upper portion of the housing M, in spaced relationship thereto, the baffle being secured in place by suitable brackets 53, mounted on the walls of the housing i4 and welded or otherwise secured to the end walls 5| as shown in Fig. 2. Inwardly directed upper upper end-walls 55, which walls also terminate in a top opening 56 which is coaxial with the lower opening 52 and with the housing I4.v Extending across horizontal shoulders provided on the brackets 53, is a supplemental fiat baffle member 51 which overlies and extends laterally beyond the opening H3 in the housing [4 and is upwardly spaced therefrom. Said supplemental baflle serves as a direct protection against downdrafts through the housing.

The snow and down-blow deflector-48 consists of a roof baffle 58 having downwardlyinclined edges 59, and is superimposed upon the main baiile 49 in upwardly spaced relationship, with its edges overhanging. the side and end walls of said main bafiie. This deflector is mounted on suitable brackets 60 secured to the upper side walls 54 of the main baflle 49. Thus, the assembled snow and downblow defiector'48 affords adequate protection against falling rainand. snow as well asdowndrafts and the particular arrangement of side and end walls of the baflle 49 and downwardly inclined edges on the deflector 48, afford protection against cross drafts which are deflected upwardly and downwardly through the device 48, without affecting the pressure within the housing l4.

A lower baflie consisting of a cross plate 6| is secured by brackets 62 to the end walls of the lower hood 20 to protect the air inlet from sudden updrafts. It will be noted that this lower baille E1 is downwardly spaced from the mouth 21 of the hood 20 which permits crossdrafts'to pass uninterruptedly across the mouth of the hood.

It will be apparent from the above description that a device constructed in accordance with my invention is adapted for various uses where-fuelburning equipment is employed. For example, it may be used to house the exposed ends of the air intake and flue or vent conduits of house heating equipment, water heaters, gas operated refrigerators and in fact, any type of fuel-burning equipment where it is desirable to protect the flame of the burner against varying atmospheric disturbances; to conduct the products of combustion away from the area in which the burner is located and at the same time provide the fresh air required to burn the fuel. With this device the fresh air is taken in through the mouth 21 of hood 29 and fed into the conduit 6, the products of combustion being discharged through the exhaust conduit or fiue 1 into the hood 2| from whence it is discharged through the mouth 31 of the latter. 43 and the diagonal passageway 46 maintain communication between the open upper and lower ends l8 and IQ of the housing I! and create The vertical passageways 42 and therein a zone of equalized pressure which insures V proper draft conditions for the burner.

The baflle arrangement at the top of the housing is designed to serve not only to deflect both down and side drafts but to protect the device against the entrance of rain and snow, while the lower bafile 6| protects the air inlet against updrafts. Furthermore the relatively wide transverse area occupied by the hood 2| facilitates the heating of the upper portion of the housing and the baffle structure located thereover so as to prevent accumulation of snow and ice on the deflector. Symmetrical arrangement of the two hoods 20 and 2| provides a simple compact structure which has proven extremely effective in operation and cheap to manufacture.

From the foregoing it is believed that my invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, without further description,

' 6 it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details of structure without departing from the spirit of. the invention as set out in the following claims; :1

I claim: i

1. In a vent protecting and draft equalizing device for the air intake and exhaust conduits of fuel-burning equipment; a vertically disposed rectilinear housing, open at its lower and upper ends, one wall of said housing having an air opening and a flue opening arranged diagonally with respect to one another and adapted to receive the ends of said air inlet and exhaust conduits, respectively, an air receiving hood and a vent discharging hood disposed diagonally within the said housing enveloping the ends of said air intake conduitand exhaust conduit, respectively, said hoods being spaced apart from one another and from the walls of said housing, to form equalizing passageways connecting the open lower and upper ends of said housing, said air receiving hood terminating in a downwardly directed elongated inlet mouth and said vent discharging hood terminating in an upwardly directed elongated discharge mouth, both of said mouths lying within the confines of said housing, respectively adjacent the lower and upper ends thereof, and baflles extending across and in spaced relation to the open ends of said housing, said vent hood being enlarged to extend transversely across said housing to substantially fill the major area of the upper portion thereof, serving to heat the housing and prevent the excessive accumulation of ice on the baffie adjacent the upper portion of the housing.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein both of said hoods are similar in shape and oppositely disposed within the said housing, extending transversely across the interior of the housing and substantially fill the major area thereof.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said hoods are formed separately from said housing and means removably securing said hoods in place therein.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said hoods are substantially triangular in shape, being spaced apart adjacent the diagonal walls of respective hoods to form a diagonal equalizing passageway connecting the upper and lower ends of said housing.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lower extremity of the vent discharging hood is provided with a drain outlet.

6. In a vent protecting and draft equalizing device for fuel burning equipment; a vertical housing, having an intake opening at the lower end and an exhaust opening at the upper end, baflles extending across and in spaced relation to said openings, air intake and exhaust conduits leading into said housing, and flow-directing means within said housing, respectively connected to said intake and exhaust conduits, for preventing the admixture of vent gases with the fresh air drawn into said air intake conduit, the bafile adjacent said exhaust opening comprising a main bafile portion, open at its top and with side walls overhanging the upper end of said housing in laterally spaced relation to the walls thereof, a closed roof portion overhanging the side walls of said main bafile portion and a supplemental flat baflle lying within said main baffle portion and extending in vertically spaced relation across the open end of said housing.

7. In a vent protector and draft equalizer for the air intake and exhaust conduits of fuel-burning equipment; a vertically disposed housing open at its vertical extremities to form a bottom air inlet and a top exhaust vent, one side wall of said housing having separate openings to accommodate the ends of said air inlet conduit and exhaust conduit, oppositely disposed flow-directing hoods carried at the ends of respective conduits within said housing for directing the exhaust gases from said exhaust conduit toward the exhaust vent of said housing and for directing the fresh air taken in through the bottom air inlet of said housing, to said air intake conduit, said hoods being spaced from each other and from the housing walls to-form equalizing passageways placing the interior of said housing in end-toend communication, a draftdefiecting bafile extending across the air inlet of the housing in spaced relation thereto and a snow and blowdown deflector mounted over the exhaust vent of said housing, and comprising a main baflle portion, open at its top and bottom and having side walls, sp-acedoutwardly from and partially overhanging the upper edge of said housing, and a closed roof baffle spaced above the open top of said main bafile portion with its edges overhanging the side Walls of the latter.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 including a supplemental flat oaflie within said main baille portion and overlying the exhaust vent of said housing.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the side and end walls of said main baffle portion are angular in shape and converge toward the upper and lower edges respectively.

10. In a vent protecting and draft equalizing device for the air intake and exhaust conduits of incl-burning equipment; a vertically disposed 18 rectilinear housing open at its lower and upper ends, separate air receiving and vent discharging chambers-formed respectively within and substantialiy filling the 'lower and upper portions of said housingsaid air chamber having a downwardly directed elongated inlet mouth and said vent chamber having an upwardly directed elongated discharge mouth, both lying within the confines of said housing, respectively adjacent the lower and upper ends thereof, draft deflecting bafiles extending across and in spaced relation to the open ends of said housing, one wall of said air chamber having an air outlet opening from said air chamber, one wall of said vent chamber having a vent inlet opening to said vent chamber, means connecting these respective openings to said air intake and exhaust conduits, and equaliz'ing passageways formed between the walls of said housing and respective chambers connecting the open lower and upper ends of said housi s.

JAMES WOODWARD References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 181,936 Greav-es Sept. 5, 1876 636,393 Dawson Nov. 12, 1901 1,397,739 Moyer Nov. 22, 1921 1,718,226 Gerlach June .25, 1929 2,087,983 Mar-tin July 27, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 563,161 Germany Nov. 2, 1932 225,519 Switzerland May 1, 1943 

